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Thursday, March 11, 2004

Environmental Injustice

Greenwatch Today, a nice little daily environmental e-update, reports that the Bush's EPA is not carrying out President Clinton's Executive Order on Environmental Justice, signed 10 years ago. Clinton's initiative was intended to ensure that environmental hazards don't disproportionately affect minority and low-income populations.

EPA's Inspector General found that

the EPA has yet to develop "a clear vision or comprehensive strategic plan, and has not established values, goals, expectations, and performance measurements" for integrating environmental justice into its policies. As a result, any protections provided to minorities and low-income families from environmental hazards have been spotty and solely dependent upon regional EPA initiatives.

"After 10 years, there is an urgent need for the Agency to standardize environmental justice definitions, goals, and measurements for the consistent implementation and integration of environmental justice at EPA"

The administration defended its action by stating that it would provide environmental justice to "everyone."